nd a half will generally present the
appearance indicated in the cut, which shows the internal structure of
the lower jaw at this time, with the cells of the teeth, the two central
ones protruding into the mouth, the next two pushing up, but not quite
grown to the surface, with the third pair just perceptible. These
changes require time; and at two years past the jaw will usually appear
as in the cut, where four of the permanent central incisors are seen.
After this, the other milk-teeth decrease rapidly, but are slow to
disappear; and at three years old, the third pair of permanent teeth are
but formed, as represented in the cut; and at four years the last pair
of incisors will be up, as in the cut of that age; but the outside ones
are not yet fully grown, and the beast can hardly be said to be
full-mouthed till the age of five years. But before this age, or at the
age of four years, the two inner pairs of permanent teeth are beginning
to wear at the edges, as shown in the cut; while at five years old the
whole set becomes somewhat worn down at the top, and on the two centre
ones a darker line appears in the middle, along a line of harder bone,
as appears in the appropriate cut.

[Illustration: THREE YEARS PAST.]

[Illustration: FOUR YEARS PAST.]

[Illustration: FIVE YEARS PAST.]

[Illustration: TEN YEARS PAST.]

Now will come a year or two, and sometimes three, when the teeth do not
so clearly indicate the exact age, and the judgment must be guided by
the extent to which the dark middle lines are worn. This will depend
somewhat upon the exposure and feeding of the animal; but at seven years
these lines extend over all the teeth. At eight years, another change
begins, which cannot be mistaken. A kind of absorption begins with the
two central incisors--slow at first, but perceptible--and these two
teeth become smaller than the rest, while the dark lines are worn into
one in all but the corner teeth, till, at ten years, four of the central
incisors have become smaller in size, with a smaller and fainter mark,
as indicated in the proper cut. At eleven, the six inner teeth are
smaller than the corner ones; and at twelve, all become smaller than
they were, while the dark lines are nearly gone, except in the corner
teeth, and the inner edge is worn to the gum.

POINTS OF A GOOD COW.

After satisfaction is afforded touching the age of a cow, she should be
examined with reference to her soundness of constitution. A g